Retractile fountain pen



Patented Dec. 24,n 1946 UNITED STATESA PATENT, OFFICE 2,413,234 aE'rRAoTILE FOUNTAIN PEN Orvel M. Johnson, Little Rock, Ark. Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,065

This invention relates to fountain pens and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a fountain pen wherein-the pen proper is normally housed in a casing, but projectable to expose the pen point for writing purposes, the pen proper including a catch means for holding the latter in exposed position, as well as including means for retracting the pen upon release of the catch.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a closure for the open end of the housing adapted to be moved to openposition upon projection of the pen proper without liability of contact with the pen point.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pen, in closed position.

Figure 2' is an elevational View illustrating the pen in operative position.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the closure cap.

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the base for mounting of the pen.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the pen removed from the housing.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the pen housing with the closure cap removed, taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 1.

'I'here is illustrated a housing ID substantially cylindrical for the major portion of its length, the rear end being open and exteriorly threaded as at II. A cylindrical -cap I2 is employed interiorly threaded and complemental to the threads il of the barrel. The cap I2 is formed with an end opening I3' dened by an inwardly turned flange I4. The forward end of the housing I 0 at the upper side is downwardly curved as at I 5, a slight distance, the opening I6 being defined by forming the walls of the housing at a rearward inclination, as indicated at I'I. The underside of the housing IIJ at the opening I6 is formed with a flat portion I8, extending longitudinally of the housing a short distance, and upon each side of said portion, ears i3 are formed, as may be clearly seen in Figure 8. The ears are of elongated form, merging rearwardly into the wall of the housing III. A closure cap 20 is mounted swingably between the ears I9 upon a pintle ZI, the over-all dimensions thereof being such as 1 Claim. (Cl. 1Z0-49) to fit flush with the opening I6; and upon the inner face of the cap a raised part 22 is formed of dimensions so as to engage within the opening I6. In order that the cap 2U may be held in releasable closed position, a leaf spring 23 is xed to the cap and extended rearwardly a distance whereit terminates Yin a recurved nib 24 which has bearing contact with the housing I0. As here shown, the spring 23 has a portion 23 embedded in the body of the cap. The spring is outwardly bowed as may be seen in Figure 1, exerting pressure upon the cap to maintain the latter in yieldable closed position. The spring also functions as a pocket clip, as will be appreciated.

Within the housing I 0 a pen 25 is reciprocably mounted, consisting of a cylindrical pen base 26 upon the forward end of which there is mounted a pen 2l. Upon the lower side of the base 26 a longitudinally extended tongue 28 is formed, complemental to a similarly extended groove 29 formed in the lower portion of the housing I6. The tongue and groove prevent rotation of the pen and insure a straight forward movement when the pen is to be projected. As may be seen in Figure 6, the tongue 28 extends beyond the forward end of the base 26 a distance so as to contact the raised part 22 in advance of the pen point 2l.

The base 26 is formed with an exteriorly threaded part 39 and reduced terminal end 3|, receiving thereon a collapsible ink sack 32. A barrel, 33 is employed, having a closed rear end 34 and an interiorly threaded forward end 35 adapted to engage the threaded portion 30 of the base, the barrel being of a length to readily accommodate the sack 32 therewithin. The barrel 33 is formed with an elongated opening 35 and within the barrel there is secured a at spring 3l which is disposed before the opening so that it may be readily flexed for the purpose of compressing the ink sack, as will be required in filling the pen.

A collar 38 is fixed upon the barrel 33 by means of a rivet 39 which also secures catch device 40. The collar 38 'is so located upon the barrel that when the pen 25 is in retracted position the collar will abut the flange I4 of the housing.

A helical spring 4I is mounted upon the barrel 33 one end having bearing engagement with the collar 33 while the other end engages the terminal rear end of the housing I3. The spring urges the pen to its retracted position as may be seen in Figure 1.

The catch device 40 is a ilat spring element, the rear end of which is formed with a notch 52 adapted to engage beneath the iiange I4`when the pen is moved to operative position. In order to permit the necessary flexing movement of the spring, a recess or opening 42 is formed in the barrel 33 which Will permit the catch to spring downwardly thereinto.

When it is desired to ll the pen, the cap l2 is removed and the pen may then be drawn rearwardly from the housing. The point 21 of the pen is deposited in an ink well or the like, and the sack 32 compressed by exerting pres-r sure on the spring 31. Upon release of the spring, the sack will expand and ink willbe drawn into the sack. The pen is now replaced in the housing, care being taken to see that the i tongue 28 engages within the groove 29. The cap l2 is then engaged upon the housing.` When it is desired to use the pen, inward pressure is exerted upon the end 34 of the pen, causing the latter to move longitudinally of the barrel, presenting the forward end of the tongue 28 against the raised part 22 of the closure cap. Itwill be noted that the tongue 28 engages the part 22 in advance of the pen point 2l', so that damage to the latter is avoided. 'I'he'closure 20 will be swung to open position with the pen point exposed. In this position'the catch 40 will have become engaged with the ange I4 and the pen '4 will thus be held in operative position for writing. When it is desired to retract the pen, the catch 40 is depressed to release the ange, when the spring 4I functions to retract the pen into the housing, and at the same time, the spring 23 urges closure 20 to closed position.

While I have shown and described the invention specically, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A fountain pen comprising a housing having an open end, a pair of ears on the housing at one side of the open end, a closure cap hingedly mounted between the ears, a pen within the housing having an end projected through the open end of the housing, spring means within thel housing operativelyengaged between the pen and the housing, for holding the pen within the housing, said closure cap having a raised interior face, a tongue on said pen for engaging the raised'face of the closure cap in advance of the point of said pen upon outward sliding movement of said pen, and a leaf spring having one end mounted in said closure cap for holding the closure cap releasable over the open end, the other end of the spring being recurved and normally contacting the housing.

ORVEL M. JOHNSON. 

